No pool owner would like to wake up to a frozen swimming pool, right? With the advent of winters, one thing that disturbs every swimming pool owner is how to protect your pool from major repairs.
As per IAPWS, water at freezing temperature expands to 9% of its volume. This means, If your swimming pool is not winter-proof, there can be serious issues with pool parts and plumbing.
So, how to fight off the cold just in time?
Herein, we are suggesting five ways to protect your swimming pool from freeze damage during winter:
1. Use pool cover
If you wish to close your pool during winters, a swimming pool cover is essential. A pool cover has many benefits:
- Retains the heat from the sun to keep the pool warm during the day.
- Prevents the growth of microorganisms.
- Prevents waste from getting into the pool.
- Safety barrier to your pets and children when a pool is not being used.
However, the question arises which cover is right for your pool? Check out some options:
- Standard winter cover: This keeps away dead leaves, litter, and snowfall during the months you’re not using your pool.
- Safety cover: This is heavy enough to safeguard children and pets from falling in the water.
- Automatic pool enclosure: This retractable pool enclosure is operated by a button or a switch. It keeps out dust, debris, and flying objects.
2. Winterizing the pool
One of the best ways to protect your pool from the dangerously low temperature is by winterizing the pool even before the arrival. Some of the steps to winterize your pool:
- Begin by clearing out all the waste.
- Test the pH, alkalinity, and calcium level of water.
- Maintain the right level of water to protect the tiles from cracking.
- Add necessary antifreeze chemicals to your pool.
- Drain water from all of the pipes to avoid any burst.
- Remove all the pool equipment.
- Place a pool cover.
Above all, the best way to protect your pool is to keep it at a temperature above the freezing point.
3. Use a skimmer bottle
A pool skimmer is important to trap all the invaders and debris floating on the surface. However, If the water inside the skimmer freezes, it can cause the fixture to over-expand and crack.
In such cases, use a skimmer bottle. Skimmer bottle absorbs all that freezing expansion and can protect your skimmer from damage.
Steps to make a skimmer bottle at home:
- Get an empty water bottle.
- Add pool antifreeze in it
- Put the cap back on.
- Drop the bottle into the skimmer.
This will absorb all the pressure and release the stress that freezing puts on the walls of the pool skimmer.
4. Floating icebreakers
To prevent the formation of frost and ice on the surface of the pool, diagonally place the floating icebreakers across the pool and let them remain floating in the water.
There are specifically designed floating ice breakers that can ingest the extra volume of the water, minimize excess of the pressure, and can avoid any cracks in pools. These have holes that make them linked together to fit in a specific pool size to prevent frost and ice from forming.
5. Freeze guarding
Freeze guard is the best way to protect the pool from freeze damage. It allows pool owners to set a needed temperature at which the pump and heater will start, keeping the water flowing throughout the pipes.
Moreover, the freeze protector can detect the low temperature. If that happens, it automatically starts your pool pump to keep the water moving until the temperature outside is warm enough to safeguard your pool.
In the end…
Regardless of which way you opt for, protecting your pool from cold is a must. Following necessary precautions will not only prevent damage but will ensure that your pool is ready for swimming this season!
Happy winters!
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